The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-01-27
SCIENCE OF {
The sense That First Looses Consci
ousness in S1umber.

Each successive graduation in sleep is
marked by the inclusion of Il nervous
system which is for the time being
shut off, so to speak, from. participating
in the general life function of the in
diSidual until, when the maximum in
tensity is attained, nothing is left but
the purely animal-.one might almost
say the vegetable-life. Sleep of this
degree of intensity, although n perfect
normal process, is not, in health, of
long duration. After a lapse of Il variable
space, of time the systems one by one re-
sumo their functions, until finally the
sum of their perceptions brings about
the condition of awakening. The brain
shares in the noed, which is every
where apparent. of periods OF rest.
The products of cerebral activity accu-
mulate more rapidly than they are
eliminated, and a period therefore ar
rives when the tissues are no longer
able to do their work. The result is
an invincible feeling to indisposition to
exertion, physical or mental. The
temporary and involuntary cessation Of
activity ~ at once followed by n dimin-
uation Of the blood supply; the anamia
SO induced being, therefore, Il conse-
quence, and not n cause, OF the state Of
repose.
The various parts of the nervous
system are not all involved siiaultane-
ously OF to the anne extent. The
centers governing voluntary move
ment are the first to be affected. rs seen
in the holding of the head and closure
of the eyolids, and the body, if aot pre-
vented, tends to assume the position Of
repose determined by the laws of
gravity. The special senses soon
follow, but here again they are not
abrogated en- masse. Sight is the first
to go. the stimulus no longer reaching
that portion OF the cerebrum where il
can give rise to n definite sensation.
| even where the closure Of the lids has
not shut of external 81 null altogether.
Hearing and smell are remarkably per-
s~istent, and, except in the deepest sleep,
may be said to be only dullcd, and not
extinguished. Everyone is famll M
with the case with which sleep is put
VI tllu W Nv uuiiCCuol OlltN llOlNt, CNtu
of slight intentity, or, better still, by
the cessation of any monotonous sound,
as for instance the awakening of travel
ers by rail or steamboat on any stop
pcge of the train or machinery. In
stances are on record. too, where the
inhabitants of q house have been rous
ed simply by the smell of tobacco, in
dulged in by inexperienced or incau-
tioas burglars.
The persistent sensibility of these
senses may, tc some extent, be accounts
ed for by the fact that they are not shut
of from communication with the out
side world as are, for example, the eyes.
To allow sleep, or at any rate quiet
sleep, q certain harmony must exist in
the condition of all the organs, which
must, so to speak, be tuned to the
sleep tone. If IL organ be in 4 state
of activity, or, on the other hand. its
condition be abnormal IN some other
way, the sensorium refuses to abdicate
its control. This is familiar to us in the
case of cerebral activity or cold feet at
bed time, both being inimical to sleep.
Inasmuch. therefore, rs insomnia may
result from either set of causes, we can
either employ drugs, such as opium,
which act directly on the nerve centcrs
and so bring about sleep, We may re-
sort to medicines like hypnone, which
is said to favor sleep rather than induce
il, by allaying the irr table oil hyper
aesthetic conditions Of certain organs
or part. British Medical JoHrRdL